Wheel and shaft assembly means



May 27, 1947. G. H. FRoELlcl-r 42,421,254

mmm.v Am: samwssmm xmms Filed Aug. 24, 1944 muuu f'" fun , :Nl/mmh. mvs' H. FRocucH Patented May 27, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc WHEEL AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY DIEAN S Gustave H. Froelich, Torrington, Conn., assignor to The Torrington Manufacturing Company,

Torrington, necticut Conn., a corporationr of (lon-V Appucauo August 24, -1944, serial No. 551,033

. l vThis invention relates to improvements in wheel and shaft assembly means, and more particularly to an `improved hub and shaft connection for use with'any of a number of different types of shaft mounted rotary elements, particularly but not'exclusively, centrifugal blower wheels, pro' peller type fans and the like.

' masses, necessarily and inherently produce an aggravated unbalanced condition. The same is trueof set screws, particularly where only a, single screw isl employed.v Even in conditions where a pair or more of set screws are utilized, it is impossible without extreme care, accurately to center the shaft in the hub bore, so that a great number of such assemblies operate either out of balance, or with the wheel in "cocked relation to its shaft.

The present invention has as a general object, the elimination of the difficulties aforesaid, and the attainment and production of a hub and shaft fastening which is or may easily be inherently balanced, and which, without any niceties ofad-V Justment, results in a close-to-exact centering of the shaft in the hub bore therefor.

Yet another object of the invention is attained in a hub and shaft assembly which realizes the vobjectives noted, and which facilitates both assembly and disassembly of hub and shaft.

A still further and important oject is attained in a device having the advantages and realizing the results noted, which may be produced entirely of parts easily fabricated with or in automatic screw machines orthe like, and at a nominal cost, in fact in certain sizes, at costs comparable to set screw gures.

Yet another object is attained in a unique shaft and hub assembly means which provides a single rotatable actuator, such as` a nut, for both apply-` ing to and removing from a wheel hub Lor the like, a centering bushing or sleeve. .y

A still further object of the invention is realized in a device-for shaft and wheel assembly s claims. (ci. zar- 53) which may be applied to any general class of rotatable shaft mounted devices, such as propeller type fans, blower wheels, gears, clutch elements, etc.. all herein for .brevity and comprehensively referred to asf'wheels." -4 4 An additional objective of the invention is attained in an improved construction ofnui; particularly adapted for use as a balanced hubnut,

having portions susceptible of slight axial deformation for the purpose and with the result of limpartingself-locking characteristics to the nut.l

- A still further object of the invention isv attained in an improvedlconnection in a Wheel connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which: v

struction, of a'wheel hub, to a web or plate ele' ment thereof, for example, in the assembly of hub and back plate of a centrifugal blower wheel.

The foregoing and numerous other objects will more clearly appear from the following detailed description 'of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, particularly when considered in con- Fig.1 is a section of a centrifugal blower wheel and shaft, shown partly ineievation, the sectional r portions being taken in an axial plane;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away for clearness, and partly in section, of a preferred i Fig. 4 is a sectional view, in an axialplane, of y I a hub nut of preferred form; and

Fig. l5 is an isometric view of the hub nut. l

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing. there is illustrated an exemplary application of present improvements as utilized for the assembly of a centrifugal blower wheel to a rotatable shaft on and 'by which the wheel is rotatably mounted. For completeness it may be noted `that the jwheel includes an imperforate back plate AIl) provided with an axial hub and shaft openingy I l; opposite the back plate is -an inlet ringv or end ring I2, and mounted between the ring and plate is a generally cylindrical structure .formed to provide a plurality of spaced blades i3, the lateral margins of the plate-forming portion being secured, as at I4, into assembly with the ring andplate.

It is a preference to provide in the back. plate Ill, and closely surrounding the hub opening, Ii, a depressed or recessed -seat of a generally shal-V low, cylindrical form, for the reception of and attachment to the hub element to be described. This hub seat lin the back plate il) is peripherally Idefined by wall portions I5, which in section,

would appear as substantially normal to the adjacent planar portions of plate l0, so as to present y a right angular relation thereto. The bottom of this seat or cavity is formed by an additional annular planar portion extending from the right angular wall part I5, radially inwardly `to the hub opening Il.

The hub proper of the wheel is indicated generally at 20, and by vpreference includes a plate seat portion or securement head 2l. This is or 'may be of generally externally cylindrical form,

and oi' a diameter such that it issnugly set into,

firmly embraced and positively centered by the plate seat portion I 5. The head 2i is'preferably at least the depth of the plate seat. Extending axially, in a direction outwardly of the wheel, is a portion 22, initially of a relatively reduced thickness and coaxial with the body of the hub 20.

pparentfrom the drawing.

It will Ihave now-appeared that the ,close centering fit between the hub seat identified with head 2|, and the plate seat identified particularly with the wall portion l5, results in an extremely sturdy, permanent, and diiilcultly deformable hub .and wheel attachment. It will be noted from the relationV of parts that this attachment tends markedly to prevent any cooking tendency of the wheel, and assures.'in a .way not possible with bevelled or otherwise formed companion seats, the maintenance of the exactly centered relation of back plate, hence of wheel, and the hub proper. Further describing the hub in `more detail, it will be noted as a preference to' provide this member with a tapered internal bore 23 for a purpose later-better appearing,.and to thread the otherwise free end of the hub, externally by preference, as indicated at 24. v

The whole device .as'shown, is mounted on an end portion of'a rotatabe shaft 26, powered by any suitable means (not shown).` y

Intertting the tapered bore 23 of hub 20, is

' a tapered sleeve, bushing or tubular wedgeelement generally indicated at 30, and provided with a cylindrical bore 3l of a diameter which is even, to close tolerances, substantially from end to end of the sleeve.' The varying thickness of' wall of the element extends from a zone somewhat inwardly of the end of the sleeve, preferably to its opposite end as shown, and preferably Just beyond but adjacent the heavier end of the sleeve is a portion of reduced diameter32, from which formation there results a rightangle shoulder or abutment 33 for a purpose later appearing. The sleeve is preferably provided with a longitudinal incision such as a slot 34, andthe sleeve is formed of a sufficiently resilient material or is so treated, that it is susceptible of diametral constriction or compression within the bore 23 of the hub. It is a preference to provide only a single slot 34, and so to determine the width of the slot that it is substantially the sum' of tolerances of shaft, sleeve, and hub bore, from which it will now be obvious that when the sleeve 3U is assembled Ainto and fullyseated in bore '23, the

slot 34 will be substantially, although preferably not quite completely, fully closed. This possesses the advantage of eliminating any possible unf balanced condition resulting from slotting of the sleeve since, when it is fully constricted, its mass is evenly disposed about its axis, being also the 4 axis of rotation identified with the center of shaft 28.

Although the taper imparted to sleeve 3l), which closely approximates also the taper of bore 23, is optional within reasonable limits, it is preferred that such taper be of the order of 5 degrees to 8 degrees inclusive, but more 'importantly such as to obviate any tendency of the sleeve to freeze in the bore 4in the event of requirement for removal of the wheel from the shaft for replacement or service attention. An optimum taper of both sleeve and hub bore, may be stated as approximating 'I1/ degrees.

As a means for inserting and preferably also for withdrawing the sleeve, there is provided in the example shown, a nut generally indicated at 40, and which may be of square, hexagon, cylindrical or of knurled or other desired type. The

internal threads 4l of the nut extend over only a portion of the bore of the nut, so that beyond the threaded portion is an unthreaded part 42,

'and beyond the latter is formed an inturned annular flange 43. This flange, as will now appear, constitutes a. 1companion abutment coacting with the shoulder 33 of the sleeve as the sleeve is forced into the bore of the hub 20through coaction, as will now appear, of the threads 4| of the nut and the threads 24 of the hub. It is also a distinct preference to connect the sleeve 30 and nut 43 in a preliminary assembly operation, the

better arrangement being to provide in the sleeve an annular groove in which is rotatively. operable the inturned ange 43 of the nut. The annular groove is conveniently .provided at a low cost by the metal of the reduced portion 32 of the sleeve. 'I'he latter is of such length as to extend appreciably beyond the nut, and is hammered, rolled or spun to form an'external annulus or lip 44. Al-

though thedevice, is operatlveeven though the annulus or lip 4 4 tightly embraces the flange 43 ofthe nut, it is preferred to spin this lip downv only to a degree that the flange 43 floats in the resulting groove. This has been found to possess' the distinct advantage of enabling rotation of the nut withoutthe possibility of rotating, with much greater friction, the sleeve within the hub bore. It-wlll now have been observed that in the event of removal of the wheel from the shaft, the nut flange 43 coacts with the spun lip 44, as an abutment in withdrawing the sleeve.

A further highly advantageous feature of the present assembly is embodied in a special4 formation of the nut 40, such that the latter is in effect a self-locking nut, and effectively prevents any tendency of vibration, through long periods of usage, to loosen the nut. This feature in the present embodiment consists in a plurality, preferably two, incisions of the nut body, each in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft, hence to the axis of the nut. These incisions (or divisions however produced) are preferably made medially of the length of the nut, or with some minor deviation from a median plane such as effectively to divide the threaded zone of the nut into both axially and angularly spaced threaded areas of nut bore. .It is a further important preference, where this nut is employed in rotating apparatus as for wheel and shaft securement, to preserve the inherent balance of the nut by evenly angularly spacing the divided .or partly severed nut i portions. From this it results that, incident to threading up the nut. or otherwise if desired, the slotted' angular zones of the nut become slightly axially deformed with respect to each other. The stock of which the nut is formed,

` from the periphery of the nut,

but it may be noted that first the hub, hence the v first, by design of each is of sufdclent resilience that the nut itself thus partakes of the characteristics of a lock washer, and once it isA rmly threaded up, strongly resists any tendencyt'o casual unthreading. It will be noted that, by the provision of the slots or incisions in the nut, the effect above described is fully attained, and yet only two of there remains for sturdy structural connection self-looking which is longitudinally tapered so that it conof the half portions of the nut, two substantial bridge pieces 45, the slots, shown as sawcuts, being indicated at 4'6. Each of lthe latter pref-` erably extends in a direction radially inwardly f --posite zones, and into the bore of the nut.

A logical order of assembly of the parts and l their function in usage, are thought to have been fully apparent from the foregoing description,

will usually consist ofthe attachment of h ub with its head or seat portion in the seat I5 of the wheel backplate, followed say byI spinning of the extended portion 22, resulting in the described annulus which serves to vgrip the metal margin about the hub opening vIl whereby there is assured permanence of assembly .of the hub body and the wheel proper.

in diametrally opassembly operations 2| firmly assembled forms externally to the internal taper of the hub bore, the sleeve snugly embracing the shaft, the sleeve being provided with an annular shoulder and a nut threadedly engaging the hub and including an extension turned inwardly of its bore and axially spaced from the threads of the nut and engaging the shoulder of the sleeve as the nut is vthreaded up on the hub, whereby'the nut serves upon being threaded up, to drift the sleeve j linto position within the bore of the hub.

A further preliminary assembly o1 the'parts in lthe form shown, may consist of application of the nut over the reduced end of sleeve 30, followed say -by spinning to form the lip 44, after which the rotatably related sleeve and nut are ready as an assembly for insertion over the end of shaft 26 with the wheel and hub in place thereon. Actuation of the nut 40 for threading it up on the hub threads the sleeve into thehub bore until it is brought into final position as shown. with the now obvious two-fold effect o1' tightly wedging the hub assembly to the shaft, and of deilnitely centering wheel, in coaxial relation to the shaft,

It is importantv in assembly. particularly of higher speed blower wheels or the like, to obviate all avoidable sources of unbalance. It will have appeared that this result is admirably attained and secondly, in so assembling the parts that no unbalancing tendencies are introduced to the rotating system. This is true, for example,. of the hub body 20 wherein the head v2| may be of cir- K cular external conformity, orif desired, of hexagonal or other polygonal shaping, but in any event with its mass evenly angularly ldistributed 24, will now obviously serve to force of the parts to that end,

2. Means for assembling a wheel element to a Vrotatable shaft, including a wheel hub having an externally threaded e'nd engaging said end portion, the hub having a converging .diameter inwardly of said threaded end portion, a nut threadedly portion, .a tapered sleeve characterizedyby a' longitudinal slot and a cylindricalbore adapted snugly to receive the shaft,l the sleeve being .ta-

pered comformably'to the hub bore, the4 nut having an. inturned projection located axially be yond its threaded area, and the sleeve having an outwardly open annular groove to receive said projection and-to permit relative rotative dis- Y placement of the nut-and sleeve and to prevent relative axial displacement thereof whereby, on

threading up `the nut on the hub, the sleeve isv l forced into a wedging position 'between the hub and shaft, the sleeve beingjformed of a resilient material such as to permit its diametral constriction by virtue of the slottherein, as the nut is threaded up.

3. `In a hub and shaft assembly,.a hub provided with external threads and av taperedgbore, a

' tapered sleeve vinterfitting said bore, the sleeve provided with a cylindrical bore for reception of the shaft, the sleeve having a 'reduced end portion extended substantially beyond` the hub, a nut engaging the hub threads and having an internally projecting flange loosely embracing said reduced end portion of the sleeve, said reduced end portion being formed to constitute an annulus exteriorly. of said nut flange and the nut being provided with a' slot in a plane normal to its axis, to permit axial deformation of a. portion of about-its axis. The same is true, for reasons stated, of the tapered sleeve, particularly after substantial closing of the slot 34 by constriction of the sleeve within the hub bore. Likewise, the nut 40 is inherently in static and and the expediente of spinning over the extended I reduced portion 22, and similarly forming the lip 44, all conduce to the ilnal result of attaining a wheel, hub and shaft assembly which will usually require no separate or special balancing treatment.

It will now have appeared that the device as described will serve fully to attain each and all of the several objects particularly hereinabove expressed, and additionally offers many advanrotative balance,

the nut tending to prevent unthreading thereof in assembly, the hub, sleeve and nut being formed and -assembled substantially in a condition of balance about its axis of revolution.

' diameter, the nut 4. In a hub and shaft assembly, a hub provided with a tapered bore and external screw threads, a nut engaging the external threads of the hub, a tapered sleeve of a diametrally resilient characteristic. the taper of which conforme substantially to thatof the hub bore, and having, beyond its tapered portion, a portion of relatively reduced having an inturned flange extended about said portion of reduced diameter, the last said portion the nut flange and beingjormed to constitute an annulus on one side of the nut flange and, with the remainder of the sleeve, a peripheral sleevegroove in which lthe nut flange rotatably extends, the sleeve being longitudinally slotted from end to end, whereby, as the sleeve and hub are brought into operative relation by rotation of the nut, the sleeve is evenly constricted in diameter about the shaft and within the hub bore.

to constitute a structure which is extending axially beyond able, thus tending, upon prevent unthreading thereof in assemblymhe hub', sleeve and nut being formed and assembledv to oonl sleeve into the hub or 5. In a hub with external tapered sleeve provided with a'cylindrical bore the shaft, the sleeve having a reduced end portion extended substantially beyondl the hub, a nut engaging the hub threads and having an internally projecting iiange loosely embracing said reduced end portion oi the sleeve, said reduced end portion being formed to constitute an annulus exteriorly of said nut iiange and the nut having portions -which arerelatively axially displacesuch displacement, to

a. hub provided threads and a tapered bore, a

v end, the passagek through which is of small distitute a structure which is n'substantially in a condition of balanbe aboutI its axis oi revolution.

6. In a hub and shalt assembly, a'hub provided with a tapered bore and external screw threads, a`

nut engaging the external threads 'oi the hub, a tapered sleeve of a dlam'etrally resilient characteristic, the taper tially to that of the its taperedl portion an annular groove, the nut having an inturned ila'nge -freely rotatable within thev annular groove, the

-nut, ilan'ge and annular groove `so coactingthat rotation of the nut serves selectively to drive the sleeve being longitudinally slotted whereby, as

the sleeve and hub are Vbrought into assembled relation byV rotationof stricted in 'diameterfabout the the hub bore.

the nut, the sleeve is oonshait andwithin 7. In a hub and shaft assembly. a hub providedand external screw threads, a

nut'engaging the external threads o1'. the hub,

diametrally resilientv oharwith a tapered bore a tapered sleeve oi a acteristic, -the taper of which conforms substantially-to' that of the hub bore, and having beyond its taperedv portion an ,annular groove,l the nutA having an inturned flange extended into vand freely rotatable within the annular groove, the

' nut, flange and annular groove so coasting that rotation of the nut serves selectively to drive of which conforms substan-f hub bore, and having beyond extended into and ameter, an externally tapered sleeve, of even internal diameter provided with a peripherally SI'QOved extension outside ofthe hub, with the small diameter por.- tion or the nut freely rotatably engaging the groove in said extension, whereby to enable inser-V the-hub as the nut'is rotated.

withdraw it therefrom, the

tion and withdrawal of the sleeve into and from y eUsTAvE H. momen. nnFEaENCEs CITED The following references are of record in tvhe file of this patent: i

UNITED STATES-PATENTS Number Name, Date 1,499,873'` Ravier July'1,1924 123,418 Newell Feb. 6, 1872 i 258,797 Newell May 30, 1882 1,720,807 Wackman July 16, 1929 738,445 HoffmannA Sept. 8, 1903 726,336 Ott Apr. 28, 1903 1,371,212 Adams et al Mar. 15, 1921 1,609,968 Schroedel Dec. 7, 1926 2,334,874 Howsam Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,046 France (3d addition) e June 10, 1930 505,291 Great Britain May 9; 1939 to receive the shaft, the sleeve 

